Infection is a huge problem in hospitals, especially as they get larger and infections become resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants.
Does anyone know of new IC models or IC risks?
One of the methods we use for IC is disposable gowns and gloves - but when does the disposal of these become a risks in themselves? When does swabbing floors and surfaces spread infection, rather than prevent it?
Dear Jan,
creative infection control solutions are available in copious amounts and the evidence base for most is rather solid. A good source for examples is the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (see link to the infection control resources below).
Perhaps a much bigger challenge is translating knowledge into practice: Knowing what the right thing to do is doesn't automatically mean people will change their behaviour immediately. So change management might be an interesting field of research for you as well.
If you desire to get some more training in this field, I recommend the executive training in antimicrobial stewardship at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm or the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Infektiologie. Stanford University also has a worthwhile coursera programme on antimicrobial stewardship.
Going back to your specific question about the benefits and risks of floor swabbing or disposing of medical waste: it's a sine qua non of interventions that they always also create new problems while solving an old one. We need to accept this to some degree and make sure that solutions are net beneficial. If you're more deeply interested in this conundrum, I suggest you have a browse through the following books:
Best wishes from Berlin,
Sven
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/prevention.html
Two different companies one in San Diego (PureBio) and another in New Zealand (Zoono) have successfully tested their products in high level infectious locations (hospitals, mass transportation, food processing plants).
Each company provides a new an innovative approach to viral and bacterial control. PureBio uses a Silver Dihydrogen Citrate formulation with clear positive results. PureBio is already FDA approved check their website for scientific research results.(www.purebio.com)
Zoono provides a "mechanical" approach to viral and bacterial control and is currently being tested in New York and results will come out very soon. They have been tested successfully in China, Switzerland, UK and several more countries. For more information please go to their website (www.zoono.com).
I hope this helps...
I believe boiled gowns were and invention of Joseph Lister in the 1860's. And disposable gowns are sometimes used in messy operations (like childbirth) and during epidemics. Sorry, I don't work in a hospital, so I can't direct you to any specific IPC protocols, but Im sure you won't have to look hard. In my post I used the we to mean 'we ever-so modern humans,' ranter than 'we (at my hospital)'. I was interested because at the time the ebola epidemic was raging and I suspected that the sheer amount of disposables waste could have helped it spread. In many places valuable looking things never make the incinerator - especially if they look quite clean.
Hi Jan
Great question indeed! It's not only important for the protection of health workers and admitted patients only but also prevent further spreading from super spreaders too. Only PPE and regular cleaning are not enough but you know the hard reality of third world countries where even these 2 essential thins are not yet ensured. Further innovations just dream for them. WHO has to think more about this.
About the 'ROW' (Rest of the World) I big concern with PPE is that it is 'informally' recycled. It goes off to be burned or dumped and suddenly street-dwellers are wearing it. It was possibly a huge cause of spread of Ebola a few years ago, and I daresay it's not a great look for COVID either.
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